PISA Science Scores by Country

What Is PISA Science Scores?

PISA Science Scores measure average performance in science literacy for 15-year-old students in the Programme for International Student Assessment, conducted every three years by the OECD. The test evaluates students’ ability to apply scientific concepts and reasoning to real-world scenarios. This score provides an international benchmark of science understanding and critical thinking across education systems.

Why PISA Science Scores Matters to a Country’s Progress

• Indicates scientific literacy, as strong scores reflect students’ ability to interpret data and understand scientific phenomena.
• Predicts workforce readiness, since science skills support careers in healthcare, research, and emerging technologies.
• Informs education policy, because governments use PISA science data to identify gaps in curricula and resource allocation.

Implications for Policy & Society

• Low science scores often prompt investment in teacher training, laboratory facilities, and hands-on science programs.
• High scores can attract interest from international researchers and support cross-border education partnerships.
• Persistent gaps between regions or socioeconomic groups highlight the need for equitable resource distribution and early STEM interventions.
• Tracking year-over-year changes helps evaluate the impact of initiatives like inquiry-based learning and digital science tools.

How to Read the Rankings

• A higher PISA Science Score indicates stronger average science literacy among 15-year-olds in that country.
• “Most Recent Year” shows the latest average score; “Change” reflects the difference from the prior cycle’s results.
• Score shifts may result from cohort differences, curriculum reforms, or changes in test participation rather than long-term trends.

Ranking Highlights

• Kazakhstan tops the progress rankings in PISA Scores (Science), recording an increase from 397 to 423. Dominican Republic follows with a gain from 336 to 360, while Panama rounds out the top three, rising from 365 to 388.
• Across all 70 countries, the average year-over-year change was -4 percentage points with a median change of -2 percentage points.
• Overall, 30 countries improved in this area while 39 worsened. Click on a country to open the full country scorecard and see how it performs across a range of key indicators.

Source: OECD. Only countries with complete data (both points within the past 10 years) are shown.